In the modern era of popular music, artistic longevity is but a fraction of that secured by many of the originals from the formative, frantic and experimental days of the early 1960s.

One local band has been, save for a brief hiatus in the early ‘70s, in parallel existence for the whole of that time.

Newcastle six-piece, The Junco Partners, were formed in 1964 - and the intervening fifty years hold a multitude of tales which really ought to be the subject of a book.

The Juncos, as they are more commonly known, have become such a fixture on the music scene in these parts that many people may be unaware of just how deep those R ‘n’B and blues roots go.

When the band formed in 1964, local venues like the Downbeat Club and the Club A’Gogo - both, of course, long since departed - were key locations on the UK’s itinerary for the burgeoning rock/blues scene.

The band replaced the Animals as residents at both of the Newcastle clubs and played Hamburg’s famed Star Club which had provided board and lodgings and musical outlet for the emerging Beatles.

For the rest of that decade the Juncos were also pressed into service - requested, as often as not - as support band for major American blues artists who, for reasons of economy, could not bring their regular US bands with them.

Two such artists were the incomparable, towering (musically and physically) Chester Arthur Burnett aka Howlin’ Wolf and the much-copied guitarist, Freddie King.

In 1969, Wolf told interviewer, Pat Langford, that the Geordie blues-band were certainly up to the task when he said. “They just played as I told them and it worked. They’re so good. I hope they can work with me again sometime.”

Of course it was no mere serendipity that won the Juncos the Wolf tour. The boys had been gigging hard across the UK, often supporting acts like The Who, Jethro Tull, Little Richard, Jimi Hendrix, John Mayal’s Bluesbreakers, The New Yardbirds - aka Led Zeppelin - and dozens of others.

Despite the release of singles and a highly-collectible album for the Philips label, commercial success was to elude them and a halt was called in 1971 although individual members went on to record with many big-name acts.

Newcastle blues band the Junco Partners in 2014

The Junco juices started flowing again in 1977 and it was not long before a TV show called Alright Now (by the makers of The Tube and White Room) featured the Juncos in the company of Eric Burdon.

They subsequently signed a singles deal with the management of Roxy Music but there was to be no chart success.

Their undimmed status gained them an appearance in Jimmy Nail’s Spender TV programme, and they were seen by countless live audiences right across the region and the odd excursion - Spain included - outside of it.

As you might expect, the band has undergone some personnel changes over the fifty years - how could it not ? - but the group line-up has been remarkably stable.

The original rhythm section of John Woods (drums) and Fender bassist, Dave Sproat (also the de facto archivist, whipper-in and organiser) are still at the helm. They have outlasted their peers and even that other long-serving “engine-room” of the Rolling Stones, Charlie Watts and Bill Wyman (who left the Stones in 1993).

Singers Ronnie Barker and John Anderson have been out-front for the vast majority of the band’s shows. Charlie Harcourt (electric guitar) had a long period with Lindisfarne and was with Jackson Heights and Cat Mother, earlier still.

He has been back in the Juncos fold for well over a decade and is ably assisted in the twin-lead role by Kenny Barker on electric guitars.

Rather appropriately, the band was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame (an American Heritage organisation) last month which turned-out to be a fitting tribute to one of the region’s real musical gems.

Although not quite as prolific these days, the Junco Partners continue to pull-in the crowds and a recent show in Harrogate (where bassist Dave Sproat now lives) sold-out well in advance and the night succeeded in raising a very laudable £1500 for the McMillans Cancer charity.

The band noted that approximately ninety-five percent of the audience had not seen them before !

You can catch the Junco partners - for the first time or otherwise – at the following upcoming shows: Friday, October 10 at Whitley Bay Playhouse; Saturday, November 8 at Seaton Delaval Arts Centre; Saturday, November 22 at the Mill Volvo Tyne Theatre.